Death toll rises in Mexico storms

From Pierre Meilhan, CNN

Updated 1328 GMT (2128 HKT) September 21, 2013

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Photos:Storms slam Mexico

Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A Red Cross rescuer zip lines across a river at the site of a collapsed bridge near the town of Tierra Colorada, Mexico, on Saturday, September 21. At one point this week, Mexico seemed to be pummeled from all sides by then-Hurricane Manuel and the remnants of Hurricane Ingrid.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Two women inspect what is left of their home in the village of Salsipuedes, Mexico, on Friday, September 20.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A van is recovered September 20, after being trapped by floodwaters in Navolato, Mexico.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Mexican soldiers search through mud and debris in the state of Guerrero on September 20. Guerrero was the hardest-hit state from the dual onslaught of Hurricane Manuel and sister storm Ingrid.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Villagers in San Jeronimo line up at a helicopter from Mexico's Attorney General's Office to get aid on September 20. Federal police have been helping move emergency supplies and bring aid to victims of massive flooding.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A man rescues his dog from floodwater in Navolato, Sinaloa State, Mexico, on September 20.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A resident of Barra de Coyuca checks the destruction in a restaurant by the beach in a tourist resort close to Acapulco, on Thursday, September 19.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A muddy dog lies on a mattress amid the remains of a house destroyed by storms in Acapulco, Mexico, on September 19.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – People affected by Hurricane Ingrid and Tropical Storm Manuel wait in shelters set up by the Ministry of Defense on September 19, in Acapulco.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Members of the military try to move aid to Atoyac de Alvarez, which is isolated because of flooding on September 19.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Church tower lies toppled after a landslide in La Pintada, Guerrero state, on September 19.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – An aerial view shows the extent of a landslide that wiped out part of La Pintada.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Officers with the Federal Police search for bodies at the landslide in La Pintada on September 19.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A man shovels mud from his home on September 19 in Chilpancingo, Guerrero.

Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – People wade through a flooded street in Acapulco, Mexico, on Wednesday, September 18.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – People unload boxes of food from a Mexican navy helicopter in Acapulco on September 18.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – People attempt to cross a collapsed bridge in Coyuca de Benitez on September 18.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A man crosses a river using a makeshift zip line on September 18, after a bridge collapsed near the town of Petaquillas, Mexico.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A man wades through floodwaters in Acapulco on September 18.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A boat moves across the Papagayo River to ferry people from the end of a collapsed bridge in Acapulco on September 18.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – The Papagayo River swells with floodwaters in Acapulco on Tuesday, September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Stranded tourists gather around a Mexican air force plane at the air base in Pie de la Cuesta, near Acapulco, as they wait to be evacuated on September 17. An estimated 40,000 tourists were stranded in the Pacific state of Guerrero as dozens of roads were damaged and Acapulco's airport temporarily suspended services due to Hurricane Manuel.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Tourists wait to be evacuated at the Pie de la Cuesta air base on September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – People wait in line at the air base on September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – A tourist from Mexico City sleeps in a shelter in Acapulco on September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Tourists wait in line at an improvised check-in counter at an airport in Acapulco on September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – People prepare to board a flight to Mexico City at an airport in Acapulco on September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – People rest in a shelter in Acapulco on September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – An aerial view shows a flooded area in Acapulco on September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Homes and streets in Acapulco are deep in floodwater on September 17, after the heavy rain brought on by Tropical Storms Ingrid and Manuel.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Water stands on the flooded tarmac of the Acapulco airport on September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – Planes sit on the flooded tarmac of the Acapulco airport on September 17.

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Hurricane Manuel hits Mexico – People stand at the entrance of the Agua de Obispo tunnel that connects Acapulco with Chilpancingo, Mexico. The tunnel was badly damaged by the flooding.

Massive storms ravage Mexico

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Close-up view of Mexico storm damage

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At one point this week, Mexico seemed to be pummeled from all sides by then-Hurricane Manuel and the remnants of Hurricane Ingrid.

Some 24 states in the country had been impacted by storm damage, the Interior Ministry said.

And the bad news, forecasters say, is that heavy rains could continue through the end of the month.

Trapped in Paradise

One area battered by rain was the tourist destination of Acapulco on the Pacific coast. Manuel had left about 40,000 tourists stranded in Acapulco. As of Thursday, more than 10,000 were able to board military or commercial flights out of the storm-ravaged area. On Friday, some good news was delivered to trapped tourists.

Four ships arrived with 125 tons of groceries and nine tons of medical oxygen, the Interior Ministry said. But it may be some time, officials said, before Acapulco International Airport is fully functional.